Critical Currents in Islam Media Roundup (July 17-July 30)

New Photo of Nigeria's Ailing President Buhari Surfaces, VOA News
The first picture of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari seen in 78 days -- since he left Abuja for medical treatment in Britain -- surfaced on Sunday.Read More

Does Trump Have America on a Path to War with Iran?, VICE
The Trump administration hates the Iran nuclear deal—and it looks increasingly like one way or the other, the Obama-era detente may be toast. Conflict could follow.Read More

Qatar's Emir and Erdogan discuss Gulf crisis, Al Jazeera
Turkish president reviews Gulf row with Qatar's Emir on the last leg of his shuttle diplomacy tour in the region.Read More

Five things you need to know about al-Aqsa, Al Jazeera
Amid growing tensions at al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Al Jazeera explains why the holy site is a flashpoint.Read More

HRW: Saudi terrorism is killing people in Yemen, Al Jazeera
Speakers at conference in Doha question Saudi-led group's accusation that Qatar is funding terrorism.Read More

Hundreds in St. Louis march for Muslims' 'right to worship' in Jerusalem,St. Louis Public Radio
Amidst rising tension in Israel, St. Louis citizens protest in support of Palestinian Muslims.Read More

PA, Israel security coordination out as Temple Mount crisis continues,Al Monitor
The Palestinian Authority and Israel have ceased cooperation with security while protests rage throughout Israel.Read More

The Muslims of Myanmar: Has the UN failed the Rohingya?, Middle East Eye
Aid workers and human rights groups are critical of how the Rohingya crisis has been handled by senior UN officials.Read MoreWhy Muslim supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid are powerful weapons against Trump, The Guardian
For a new generation, the names ‘Hadid’ and ‘Malik’ bring to mind a heart emoji and not ‘Ugh, terrorist’. In her weekly advice column, our style expert suggests this can only be a good thing.Read More

Richard Dawkins event cancelled over his 'abusive speech against Islam,' The Guardian
Berkeley’s KPFA Radio cancels appearance by evolutionary biologist after learning of his ‘hurtful speech’ against the religion – a charge the author contests.Read More

Pastor of church providing school scripture describes Qur’an as a ‘virus,’The Guardian
Liberty Baptist Church referred to education department after Keith Piper posts YouTube videos saying Islamism is a cancer that must be destroyed.Read More

Terrorists in Sinai up their game, Al Monitor
Terrorists appear to be shifting their tactics in Egypt, not only aiming for highly visible civilian targets but also taking on higher-risk attacks.Read More

With IS on the way out, Iraqi power struggles pose major threat, Al Monitor
Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the US commanding general of the combined task force of Operation Inherent Resolve, confirmed that the war against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq is not over yet, despite the great victory in Mosul and the end of IS’ occupation of the strategic city.Read More

Young Iraqi filmmakers break taboos, Al Monitor
Two young Iraqi filmmakers have been taking on forbidden subjects in their productions despite the risks involved from offending tribal customs and traditions as well as some religious groups.Read More

American Muslims growing more liberal, survey shows, CNN
American Muslims are growing more religiously and socially liberal, with the number who say society should accept homosexuality nearly doubling during the past decade, according to a major new survey.Read More

IU professor: Muslims proudly embrace America, Indystar
The 2017 Pew Research Center’s poll of U.S. Muslims released today has one overarching message: even though half the country might disagree, Muslim and non-Muslim Americans really are more similar than different.Read More

The Burqini Debate's Irresolvable Tension, The Atlantic
Liberals emphasize personal choice, but their conception of choice has its limits.Read More

U.S. Muslims Concerned About Their Place in Society, but Continue to Believe in the American Dream, Pew Forum
While U.S. Muslims are wary of the Trump administration and see themselves as an unwelcome minority, they’re still optimistic about their future in the country. Read More

Discrimination against Muslims is increasing in U.S., Pew study finds, The Washington Post
Anti-Muslim discrimination is common and on the rise — and so, too, are expressions of support for Muslims, according to a new study on one of the United States’ fastest-growing religious minorities.Read More

‘Muslim Town’: A look inside Philadelphia’s thriving Muslim culture,The Washington Post
In the 1960s, the term “American Muslim” tended to refer to members of the Nation of Islam, a black nationalist group that thrived during the tumultuous years of the civil rights movement.Read More

In a Fearful Moment, This Growing Fund Channels Muslim American Philanthropy, Inside Philanthropy
Under fire from the Trump administration and the right-wing press, American Muslims are eager to push back against caricatures and intolerance and support each other on the ground. The Pillars Fund is one grantmaker that’s been leading the charge from within the Muslim community.Read More

Back to the Black: Are Black Muslims the new (old) face of Islam?, The Huffingtom Post
Scholar Su’ad Abdul Khabeer reflects on recent media depictions of black Muslims.Read More

July 17-23

Muslims return to CAR to find their homes are gone, Al Jazeera
Observers warn that if land and property are not returned, there will be no peace in the Central African Republic.Read More

Al-Aqsa and the Old City of Jerusalem, Al Jazeera
Rising tensions in East Jerusalem have led to increased security measures at some of the holiest sites in the world.Read More

Quebec City Muslims want a separate cemetery but are meeting resistance, The Washington Post
Quebec City’s growing Muslim community doesn’t have its own cemetery despite years of trying. After a divisive referendum on Sunday, it still doesn’t.Read More

Wearing a Hijab Is Complicated. So Is Deciding to Take One Off., Slate
An immigrant mother and daughter explain how hard it can be to wear – or choose not to wear – a hijab.Read More

Under Trump, Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes Have Increased At An Alarming Rate, Newsweek
There were more than 940 reports of potential bias incidents involving the targeting of Muslims between April and June, according to a report released by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Monday.Read More

How Trump Is Stealthily Carrying Out His Muslim Ban, The New York TimesLost amid the uproar over the Trump administration’s travel restrictions on citizens from Muslim-majority countries and the impending showdown at the Supreme Court are the insidious ways that the government has already begun to impose a Muslim ban.Read More

Islamophobia in Australia: Whose Problem Is It? How Can We Overcome It?, ABC
A new report has found that, while most Australians are not Islamophobes, an increasingly undeterred minority, mostly men, are prepared to vent their hatred at Muslim women and children in public.Read More

Roberts: Arizona Senate candidate under attack for being Muslim, AZ Central
Deedra Abboud, a candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona, has received hundreds of hateful responses on Facebook aimed at her faith.Read More

Muslim woman banned from wearing headscarf in court, Independent
Legal professor accuses judge of using law as pretext for ‘racism and sexism.’Read More

U.S. Lawmakers Seek to Criminally Outlaw Support for Boycott Campaign Against Israel, The Intercept
The Western world is increasingly seeking to limit criticism against Israel.Read More

Authorities: Teen killed for dating Muslim, CNN
An Israeli-Christian man is accused of stabbing his teenage daughter to death because, authorities say, he didn’t approve of her relationship with a Muslim man.Read More

Teen behind new hijab emoji: 'I just wanted an emoji of me,' CNN
Headscarf-wearing women now have an emoji of their own, thanks to a 16-year-old Saudi girl.Read More

Citizen Khan, The New Yorker
Behind a Muslim community in northern Wyoming lies one enterprising man—and countless tamales.Read More

Muslim running for U.S. Senate praised the Founding Fathers. Then the diatribes began, The WashingtonPost
Deedra Abboud is a Muslim American candidate running for U.S. Senate against Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). Abboud has faced several hateful comments online since announcing her candidacy.Read More

Is Michigan Ready for a Governor Named Abdul?, Politico Magazine
A young candidate’s biggest hurdle will be convincing Trump voters to back an economic progressive with a Muslim surname.Read More

Quick Thoughts

Quick Thoughts is designed to provide our readers with background and analysis on topics in the news. We take our cue from current events, and ask informed observers to provide short-form commentary and context. The focus of Quick Thoughts is on the Middle East, but the column is intended to be global in reach. Send your commentary to info@Jadaliyya.com